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Kingery MT, Kouk S, Anil U, McCafferty J, Lemos C, Gelber J, Gonzalez-Lomas G. Performance and return to sport after injury in professional mixed martial arts. PHYSICIAN SPORTSMED 2022; 50:435-439. [PMID: 34236932 DOI: 10.1080/00913847.2021.1953358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is an increasingly popular combat sport incorporating striking and grappling that results in a high incidence of injuries. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of injuries on the return to sport and post-injury performance of professional MMA athletes. We hypothesize that increased age is associated with lower probability of return to sport and diminished post-injury performance. METHODS Publicly available data (obtained from ESPN.com/MMA, UFC.com, Rotowire.com/MMA) from professional MMA fighters who resigned from fight cards due to injury from 2012 to 2014 were analyzed. Injury history, match history and outcomes, and duration of time to return to professional fighting were recorded and compared to a cohort consisting of uninjured opponents. RESULTS 454 fighters were included in the analysis. The mean age at the time of injury was 30.0±3.9 years. 94.4% of injured athletes were able to return to professional MMA, and athletes required a mean duration of 6.8±6.7 months between injury and their next professional fight (range 0.3-58 months). There was no significant difference in winning percentage in the post-injury period between the injured group and the uninjured group (p = 0.691). Increased age at the time of injury was associated with the odds of being able to return to professional fighting after injury (OR = 0.822, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION In this analysis of publicly available injury data on MMA fighters, there was a high rate of return to professional sport and no evidence of an associated decline in performance following major injury requiring withdrawal from a fight card. Older age at the time of injury was associated with decreased odds of being able to return to professional fighting. With increasing popularity of combat sports, sport-specific prognostic information will help guide and treat specific injuries associated with MMA participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T Kingery
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shalen Kouk
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Utkarsh Anil
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph McCafferty
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Connor Lemos
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan Gelber
- Elite Sports Medicine, Connecticut Children's Medical Center Farmington, CT, USA
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Folhes O, Reis VM, Marques DL, Neiva HP, Marques MC. Maximum Isometric and Dynamic Strength of Mixed Martial Arts Athletes According to Weight Class and Competitive Level. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148741. [PMID: 35886591 PMCID: PMC9323058 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes must achieve high strength levels to face the physical demands of an MMA fight. This study compared MMA athletes’ maximal isometric and dynamic strength according to the competitive level and weight class. Twenty-one male MMA athletes were divided into lightweight professional (LWP; n = 9), lightweight elite (LWE; n = 4), heavyweight professional (HWP; n = 4), and heavyweight elite (HWE; n = 4). The handgrip and isometric lumbar strength tests assessed the isometric strength, and the one-repetition maximum (1RM) bench press and 4RM leg press the dynamic strength. Univariate ANOVA showed differences between groups in absolute and relative 1RM bench press and absolute isometric lumbar strength. Post hoc tests showed differences in 1RM bench press between HWE and LWE (117.0 ± 17.8 kg vs. 81.0 ± 10.0 kg) and HWE and LWP athletes (117.0 ± 17.8 kg vs. 76.7 ± 13.7 kg; 1.5 ± 0.2 kg·BW−1 vs. 1.1 ± 0.2 kg·BW−1). In addition, there was a correlation between 1RM bench press and isometric lumbar strength for absolute (r = 0.67) and relative values (r = 0.50). This study showed that the 1RM bench press and isometric lumbar strength were associated and could differentiate MMA athletes according to their competitive level and weight class. Therefore, optimizing the force production in the upper body and lower back seems important in elite and professional MMA athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlando Folhes
- Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (O.F.); (D.L.M.); (H.P.N.)
| | - Víctor Machado Reis
- Department of Sport Sciences, Exercise and Health, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal;
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Diogo Luís Marques
- Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (O.F.); (D.L.M.); (H.P.N.)
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Henrique Pereira Neiva
- Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (O.F.); (D.L.M.); (H.P.N.)
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Mário Cardoso Marques
- Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (O.F.); (D.L.M.); (H.P.N.)
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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Analysis of the Contact Area for Three Types of Upper Limb Strikes. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol 2022; 7:jfmk7020050. [PMID: 35736021 PMCID: PMC9224799 DOI: 10.3390/jfmk7020050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Performance in strike combat sports is mostly evaluated through the values of the net force, acceleration, or speed to improve efficient training procedures and/or to assess the injury. There are limited data on the upper limb striking area, which can be a useful variable for contact pressure assessment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the contact area of the upper limb in three different strike technique positions. A total of 38 men and 38 women (n = 76, 27.3 ± 8.5 years of age, 73.9 ± 13.8 kg of body weight, 173.3 ± 8.4 cm of body height) performed a static simulation of punch with a fist, palm strike, and elbow strike, where three segments of the right upper limb were scanned. The analysis of 684 images showed a correlation (r = 0.634) between weight and punch technique position in men and significant differences in elbow strike (p < 0.001) and palm strike (p < 0.0001) between women and men. In both groups, the palm demonstrated the largest area and the elbow the smallest one. These data may be used to evaluate strike contact pressure in future studies in forensic biomechanics and assessment of injury in combat sports and self-defense.
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Třebický V, Rudolf J, Pavelka R. The effect of warm-up on peak impact force of the rear hand strike in full-contact combat sports. Sports Biomech 2022:1-17. [PMID: 35707863 DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2022.2088400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Warming up is a generally accepted practice that leads to improved performance and reduces the risk of injury in a wide range of sports. However, the evidence about the influence of warm-up in combat sports is limited and, specifically, little is known about the impact which delays between a warm-up and the start of a match may have on fighters' performance. This study investigates the influence of warm-up and cool-down on one of significant performance predictors in full-contact combat sports, the peak force of a rear hand strike, in a sample of 31 athletes.Peak impact force was measured before, after, and at two time points after a standardized warm-up routine; skin temperature and heart rate were also monitored. Warm-up and cool-down periods were substantial predictors of body temperature and heart rate, but we observed no effect of the warm-up routine on strike impact force. Strike impact force remained unaffected even after the cool-down intervals.Strike impact force does not seem to respond to physiological changes elicited by a warm-up. This measure is partly related only to fighters' physical characteristics, namely the body weight. Athletes and trainers could thus concentrate on other aspects of successful performance during warm-up routines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vít Třebický
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Rudolf
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Pavelka
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Marković S, Kos A, Vuković V, Dopsaj M, Koropanovski N, Umek A. Use of IMU in Differential Analysis of the Reverse Punch Temporal Structure in Relation to the Achieved Maximal Hand Velocity. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21124148. [PMID: 34204235 PMCID: PMC8234953 DOI: 10.3390/s21124148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To achieve good performance, athletes need to synchronize a series of movements in an optimal manner. One of the indicators used to monitor this is the order of occurrence of relevant events in the movement timeline. However, monitoring of this characteristic of rapid movement is practically limited to the laboratory settings, in which motion tracking systems can be used to acquire relevant data. Our motivation is to implement a simple-to-use and robust IMU-based solution suitable for everyday praxis. In this way, repetitive execution of technique can be constantly monitored. This provides augmented feedback to coaches and athletes and is relevant in the context of prevention of stabilization of errors, as well as monitoring for the effects of fatigue. In this research, acceleration and rotational speed signal acquired from a pair of IMUs (Inertial Measurement Unit) is used for detection of the time of occurrence of events. The research included 165 individual strikes performed by 14 elite and national-level karate competitors. All strikes were classified as slow, average, or fast based on the achieved maximal velocity of the hand. A Kruskal–Wallis test revealed significant general differences in the order of occurrence of hand acceleration start, maximal hand velocity, maximal body velocity, maximal hand acceleration, maximal body acceleration, and vertical movement onset between the groups. Partial differences were determined using a Mann–Whitney test. This paper determines the differences in the temporal structure of the reverse punch in relation to the achieved maximal velocity of the hand as a performance indicator. Detecting the time of occurrence of events using IMUs is a new method for measuring motion synchronization that provides a new insight into the coordination of articulated human movements. Such application of IMU can provide additional information about the studied structure of rapid discrete movements in various sporting activities that are otherwise imperceptible to human senses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Marković
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.K.); (A.U.)
- Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (V.V.); (M.D.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Anton Kos
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.K.); (A.U.)
| | - Vesna Vuković
- Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (V.V.); (M.D.)
| | - Milivoj Dopsaj
- Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (V.V.); (M.D.)
- Institute of Sport, Tourism and Service, South Ural State University, 454080 Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - Nenad Koropanovski
- Department of Criminalistics, University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Anton Umek
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.K.); (A.U.)
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Vagner M, Cleather D, Kubovy P, Hojka V, Stastny P. Kinematic Determinants of Front Kick Dynamics Across Different Loading Conditions. Mil Med 2021; 187:e147-e153. [PMID: 33387442 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usaa542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The efficiency of front kick is related to the kicking technique. Thus, the aim of this study was to find the kinematic determinants of front kick dynamics across different performance and loading levels (no load to 45-kg load). MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-four elite and sub-elite professional military personnel (26.8 ± 10.1 years, 84.2 ± 5.4 kg, 181.1 ± 6.4 cm) performed six front kicks into a force plate across five different loading conditions. Three-dimensional kinematics of the kicks was quantified and included velocity of the hip (Vhip), velocity of the knee (Vknee), velocity of the shoulder (Vshoulder), velocity of the foot (Vfoot), angular velocity of the knee (AVknee), and angular velocity of the hip (AVhip). RESULTS The main kinematic differences between the two groups were that the sub-elite group had an increased kick time for all loading conditions (P < .001) and a lower Vfoot (P = .05) and a decreased Vhip and Vshoulder (P < .05) in the highest load condition. Vhip and AVhip were the best predictors (up to R2 = 0.58; P = .020) of peak force and impact force during no-load or loaded kicking at the elite level. Typical predictors of impulse in the elite group were AVhip, Vhip, and Vshoulder and those in the sub-elite group were AVknee and Vfoot. CONCLUSIONS The kinematic variables provide good predictions of kicking dynamics; however, the best predictor varies with the loading conditions and performance levels. Hip motion is the main differentiating factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Vagner
- Department of Military Physical Education, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prague 16252, Czech Republic.,Department of Sports Games, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prague 16252, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Cleather
- Department of Sports Games, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prague 16252, Czech Republic.,St Mary's University, Twickenham TW1 4SX, UK.,Institute for Globally Distributed Open Research and Education (IGDORE)
| | - Petr Kubovy
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prague 16252, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Hojka
- Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prague 16252, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Stastny
- Department of Sports Games, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prague 16252, Czech Republic
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Beranek V, Stastny P, Novacek V, Votapek P, Formanek J. Upper Limb Strikes Reactive Forces in Mix Martial Art Athletes during Ground and Pound Tactics. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17217782. [PMID: 33114304 PMCID: PMC7660618 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17217782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Athletes of mixed martial arts use a ground and pound strategy with the strikes in the dominant ground position. The aim of this study was to compare the average peak force (Fpeak) among three punches and to estimate the probability of achieving a skull bone fracture force of 5.1 kN for each type of strike in male and female athletes. A total of 60 males and 31 females (26 ± 8 years, 75 ± 20 kg, 177 ± 11 cm) practicing professional self-defense at the advanced and professional levels performed 15 strikes on a force plate. The analyses of 1360 trials showed significant differences among the strikes Fpeak in females (p < 0.01) and males (p < 0.01). Straight punches had lower Fpeak than palm strikes and elbow strikes in both genders, and palm strikes had higher Fpeak than elbow strikes in females. No difference was observed between palm strikes and elbow strikes in males (p = 0.09). The ground and pound strikes resulted in higher impacts than previously reported strikes in the standing position. Male athletes can deliver a Fpeak above 5.1 kN with a probability of 36% with elbow and palm strikes. Such forces can cause head injury; therefore, the use of these strikes in competition should be carefully considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaclav Beranek
- Department of Rehabilitation Fields, Faculty of Health Care Studies, University of West Bohemia, 30100 Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Department of Sport Games, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, 16252 Prague, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (V.B.); (P.S.); Tel.: +420-737480136
| | - Petr Stastny
- Department of Sport Games, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, 16252 Prague, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (V.B.); (P.S.); Tel.: +420-737480136
| | - Vit Novacek
- Biomechanical Human Body Models, New Technologies—Research Centre, University of West Bohemia, 30100 Pilsen, Czech Republic;
| | - Petr Votapek
- Department of Machine Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Bohemia, 30100 Pilsen, Czech Republic; (P.V.); (J.F.)
| | - Josef Formanek
- Department of Machine Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Bohemia, 30100 Pilsen, Czech Republic; (P.V.); (J.F.)
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